Dear Colleagues,
On behalf of our students, thank you for your commitment and contributions to re-engaging them in the richness and unmatched benefits of the residential university experience this semester. Looking to the spring semester, we must double down on this commitment. The past year and a half, we routinely heard that students want more in-person instruction and more opportunities for in-person discussion sessions, collaborations and engagement with instructors and peers alike to advance their learning and educational development. When our students made the decision to attend the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign this year, they did so with the expectation of increased in-person experiences. We owe it to them, and we are best prepared to deliver on their expectations.
The University has been working diligently ensuring that we are maximizing safety in our on-campus environment for students, faculty and staff. Our health and safety measures reflect the most current guidance from the CDC, IDPH, CUPHD and the SHEILD team: a face covering requirement for indoor university facilities; a thorough review of and standards for ventilation that meet the CDC’s COVID-19 recommendations for ventilation/HVAC systems for instructional spaces on campus; implementation of vaccine requirements for students, faculty and staff with one of the highest community vaccination rates in the state; and all of the above augmented with a proven, robust, effective PCR testing ecosystem. Our SHIELD team has found that our in-person classes are among the safest places in the community. There has been no evidence of spread of COVID-19 in the classroom.
As we plan for spring, our expectation is that courses that can be offered in-person will be offered in-person and will remain in this delivery modality. Instructors who wish to change modality must request and receive approval from the department and college to do so. As part of that process, the instructor will need to describe the unique circumstances around the request and discuss them with the unit executive officer. Instructors with health issues that prevent them from being in the classroom may seek an accommodation through an ADA process.
We have all worked so hard to make our campus as safe as possible. The university monitors health and safety conditions very closely, we are cognizant of the choices made by local school districts, and in the event conditions deteriorate, we will modify our approach.
We recognize we are all here because of and for our students. All of us together will deliver to them the educational experiences they expect and need to become the leaders and innovators of tomorrow.
With appreciation,
Andreas C. Cangellaris
Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost